
This is what we believe in: the old mindset and ways of working will not change unless we celebrate our future builders. Therefore we're bringing back the Pause Awards. Now in its third year and going regional including New Zealand, the Pause Awards is an exclusive competition that honours the impact brought by the intersection of creativity, tech and business – where the innovation happens!
28 August 2020
23 October 2020
30 October 2020
25 November 2020
You may enter as an individual or as a company. Winners and nominees will be recognised for their impact in the industry and community across twelve categories. And we've added one more - The Hall of Fame Award, which will be given to the trailblazer who pushed the ecosystem forward.
WHY ENTER?
Here are the top benefits. And we have prizes too (see below).
- Be reviewed by global industry experts.
- Get invited to speak at Pause Fest.
- Challenge yourself – compete with the best in class.
- Build credibility, be seen and recognised for your impact.
- Extend your network and get new business!
Few companies
that won in 2019.

CATEGORIES
Pause Awards champion people in the startup, scaleup and big businesses that not only go the extra mile but are also entrepreneurial, driven by purpose, plugged in the community and are aware of the impact they are making in the world and their business. All industries may apply.
Hammer Award
For nailing it
This award recognises a company’s success, on their own terms, in the market.
Awarding: Company
Who can apply: Startup, Scaleup, Company.
3 Winners
Do You Know Who I Am Award
For the silent achiever
This award recognises a person that has been responsible for the success of their company from the back stage.
Awarding: Individual
Who can apply: Co-Founder, Co-CEO, Partner, Director, Chairman, Owner, Executive.
5 Winners
Out of the Garage Award
For scaling global
This award recognises a company’s global growth, expansion, and success.
Awarding: Company
Who can apply: Startup, Scaleup, Company.
3 Winners
Big Noise Award
For media cut through
This award recognises a company that has delivered clever marketing tactics.
Awarding: Company
Who can apply: Startup, Scaleup, Company.
3 Winners
Super Connector Award
For being the community champ
This award recognises a person for a significant contribution to the success of their clients or the community.
Awarding: Individual
Who can apply: Founder, C-Level, Partner, Management, Director, Designer, Events People, Community Manager, Artist, Recruiter.
5 Winners
B-Good Award (NEW)
For a good business
This award recognises a company that has done well for the community and the world through their commercial practice.
Awarding: Company
Who can apply: Startup, Scaleup, Company, NGO, B-Corp
3 Winners
Prodigy Award
For being exceptional
This award recognises a young person with exceptional qualities or abilities.
Awarding: Individual
Who can apply: Under 35: Entrepreneur, Student, Creative.
3 Winners
Roowi Award (NEW)
For new and First Peoples
This award recognises a successful company with its founders from indigenous or ethnic heritage that has gained success in the market.
Awarding: Company
Who can apply: Startup, Scaleup, Company.
5 Winners
Unexpected Twist Award
For a great pivot
This award recognises a person or company that has taken an unexpected pivot in their business or career.
Awarding: Individual
Who can apply: Founder, CEO, Partner, Director, Chairman, Owner.
1 Winner
BATON AWARD (NEW)
For the life-long mentor
This award recognises an experienced and trusted advisor who elevated someone's career.
Awarding: Individual
Who can apply: Entrepreneur, CEO, Serial Founder, Investor, Chairman.
1 Winner
I Wish I’d Done That Award
For sheer brilliance
This award recognises a company’s simple and clever idea in a niche market.
Awarding: Company
Who can apply: Startup, Scaleup, Company.
3 Winners
Fresh Blood Award (NEW)
For students with brilliant ideas
This award recognises crazy new commercial ideas that aim to solve the world's most challenging problems.
Awarding: Individual
Who can apply: Students between Year 9 - 12.
5 Winners
2018 Winner
Unexpected Twist
“Well it a) made me laugh when I read it and b) made me feel a lot prouder than any other award I've received. So thank you! I'm honoured.”
2019 Winner
Out of the Garage
“We met people from 2 through to 10,000 people companies from different industries, all trying to achieve the same thing – grow their business.”
2019 Winner
Hammer Award
“We are honoured to have been chosen for the Hammer award, and to be considered alongside such fierce talent.”

BECOME A PARTNER
We are looking for Category, Major and Naming Rights partners. If your company values its people, purpose and culture hit us up at info@pausefest.com.au to talk about the opportunities on how to best engage your audience, boost your brand and build thought leadership.
2020 WINNERS
Say hello to Pause Awards 2020 winners across Australia and New Zealand. They are making world a better place one business at the time. Bigh shout to all pioneering visionaties who applied and of course our winners below.
illuminate Education Australia
Portable
SBE Australia
Big Noise Award: For media cut-through
The Sheet Society
Proxima
Birchal
Portable
HungryHungry
Stagekings
Single Use Ain’t Sexy
Form-i-Baby
Afterpay
Modibodi
Studio Ninja
Clipboard Hospitality
Arrow Digital
Donna Walker, CTO, Allianz
Chelsea Newell, Scale Investor
Soumya Indurti, Connect Labs
John O’Sullivan (WiFi Inventor)
Mya Ella Whatson, Treble Notes
Elliot Hayes, Smart Energy Group Pty LTD
Hayley Worley, The Sheet Society
Peace Mitchell, The Women’s Business School
Branka Injac Misic, GigSuper
Michelle Mannering, MishManners™, Raine Scooters
Melanie Tate, Puddle Jumpers Inc
Elena Kelareva, GippsTech
Jeremy Flemming, Stagekings
Katura Halleday, All Saints Anglican School
Monique Thorpe - The Green Roof Group, Camberwell Girls Grammar School
Kate Ryan - Bio-Track, Camberwell Girls Grammar School
Eligibility
- You need to be an Australian/ New Zealand based.
- Global companies can apply provided that the submission is from their local offices.
- Government departments and agencies can apply.
- Not-for-profits are welcome.
- Awards are not industry specific.
- You may enter for multiple categories.
- Individual entries need to be employed full-time or part-time for a minimum two years as of 1 June 2020.
- Startup and company entries need to have a minimum three employees and be in operation at least two years.
- For further information please refer to terms and conditions or Q&A.
I’m all good, entering now.

PRIZES
Pause Awards honours the future builders who are spearheading their companies' culture by delivering positive impact for the client, their business, as well as enriching the ecosystem locally and globally.
Entries will be judged by the world-leading industry experts. All winners in each category will each receive a certificate, a Rainbow Trophy and a ticket to the next Pause Fest.
Some of the winners will also be invited to speak at the event depending on the program. Winners and finalists will be featured on the Pause Fest website with additional editorial stories from selected winners.

JUDGING PROCESS
There will be two judging rounds:
Shortlist Round
Each judge will review a percentage of entries across the categories. The scoring is done on a 1-10 rating. Entries that score above 7.0 will move on to the Final Round as finalists.
Final Round
In the final round, judges will again give each entry a 1-10 rating. To win, an entry must have an average score of at least 7.0 and be the highest-rated entry in its category. This decision is final and binding.
In both rounds, scoring is done anonymously and confidentially. If no entry meets the criteria above for a given category, there will be no winner for that category. Judges must recuse themselves from voting on their own company, those who don't will be withdrawn.

2020 JUDGES
Meet the jury of the Pause Awards 2020.
They come from some of the world’s most innovative companies, startups, and organizations.
Speakers


















ENTRY FEES
Early entries
Company: $195 per entry
Individual: $95 per entry
Student: $45 per entry
Regular entries
Company: $245 per entry
Individual: $145 per entry
Student: $55 per entry
Late entries
Company: $295 per entry
Individual: $195 per entry
Student: $65 per entry
All fees are in AUD (exclusive of GST and processing fees)

Winners Package
Winners of each of the 12 categories will receive a trophy designed by Pause Fest Founder George Hedon, two Pause Awards Certificates, a Leader Ticket to the next Pause Fest event, a feature on the website, an editorial feature on selected winners and a promo kit for their social media.
All winners will be widely promoted via the Pause Fest network. We will not charge you for your trophy or anything else if you win. The entry to the Pause Awards Party will be a separate cost.
Shortlists
Shortlisted entries receive marketing material to promote their involvement.
What’s different about Pause Awards?
There are several tech, innovation and startup awards out there, but Pause Awards stands out of the pack. Why?
- Our low entry prices as we take into consideration that startups and individuals are applying.
- Our judges are leading international figures in tech, business culture and innovation.
- You won't find in any other award competitions out there with a diverse award category lineup like ours!
What judges are looking for?
Pause Awards doesn't just celebrate projects; it celebrates the people that make it happen. So, while each category is different, overall judges will be looking for:
Business success: what was the success in your business? How do you measure it, and what it means to you or your business?
Smart tactics: what strategies have you employed? And how resilient is your approach or the business model against the future?
Positive impact: a focus on the company culture, client or customer satisfaction and community impact.